An arthouse film is a piece of work that can only be described in the oxymoronic phrase, “broadly specific.” While the list of genre films considered arthouse is endless, they are intended to be films made for specific audiences, while emphasis is placed on aesthetics and unique approaches to a wide array of subjects. The arthouse film can trace its roots back to the early 1900s and European filmmakers such as D.W. Griffith and Sergei Eisenstein. Thriving in Europe for decades, arthouse films began to make a bigger splash in America throughout the 1970s with films likeBadlands,Taxi Driver, andEraserhead.
Thanks to a generation of filmmakers having grown up on these films, today’s generation has a plethora of arthouse films at their fingertips and no shortage of high-quality cinema. Perhaps no genre and all of its many subgenres lends itself to this style than that of drama. The last decade has delivered some truly beautiful and moving arthouse dramas, and these are the 15 greatest.
15Whiplash (2014)
Whiplash centers on the intense relationship between an ambitious jazz drummer and his rigorous instructor at a prestigious music conservatory. As the drummer strives for perfection, he faces escalating demands that push him to his limits. The film explores themes of ambition, discipline, and the price of excellence within the competitive world of music.
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Before he was whisking Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling off toLa La Land, director Damien Chazelle officially arrived with his psychological dramaWhiplash. Miles Teller plays Andrew Neiman, an aspiring jazz drummer who seemingly meets his match when faced with an aggressive teacher, Terence Fletcher, played by J.K. Simmons. Based on real-life experiences by Chazelle, and a short film was produced for the Sundance Film Festival, which featured J.K. Simmons. After the short received rave reviews, a full-length feature film was greenlighted, and Teller was cast, with Simmons set to return.
Simplicity at its Finest
The story ofWhiplashis not an overly complicated one, and it is a tale that we have all probably experienced in our lives. A teacher can make or break you, especially in a subject that is meaningful to you. The simplicity of the story does not exclude it from having great tension or drama. In fact, in this case, it helps to create more of it. The intensity of the music throughout the film often times feels like a character in and of itself. The subject may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but its lingering meaning can resonate with anyone that gives this modern masterpiece a chance.
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14Birdman (2014)
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Taking on a role that must have been all too familiar for him, Michael Keaton stars inAlejandro Iñárritu’sBirdman. A story that focuses on a Hollywood actor whose best days are behind him after building a career as the superhero Birdman. He struggles as a washed-up actor, attempting to make a Broadway comeback in the playWhat We Talk About When We Talk About Love. Costarring Emma Stone, Edward Norton, Naomi Watts, and Zach Galifianakis,Birdmantook the cinema world by storm in the Fall of 2014 on route to a slew of Oscar nominations, including a Best Picture win for Iñárritu.
The Struggling Artist: A Classic
The overall theme ofBirdmanprimarily focuses on the struggles that Keaton’s character goes through in order to star in a play that he hopes will propel him back into the show business spotlight. Along with beautiful cinematography, seamless edits, including a breathtaking one-shot, and a frenetic score, and you would think you are looking at a piece of art hanging on the wall.Birdmanis not just a recent example of an exceptional arthouse film, but a film that cemented its place in all of cinema history.
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13The Lobster (2015)
The Lobster
Yorgos Lanthimos is one of the most unique filmmakers working in Hollywood, and truly began to make his mark in American cinema with 2015’sThe Lobster. The film centers around Colin Farrel’s character David as he moves into a hotel filled with other single men and women who are attempting to find a partner. The couples have just 45 days to link up or face the consequences of being turned into animals.
Satisfying Our Animal Urges
The Lobsterdoes not take very long to lay its cards on the table, making it clear to the audience that this film is going to be unlike many they have seen before, and it’s not for everyone. With stark subtext and commentary on human behavior on the base level,The Lobsterknows what it wants to do and does not mince words or images in getting its theme across. Despite its narrowed aim when it comes to audience, one critic described it as Yorgos Lanthimos' “most accessible and purely enjoyable film yet,” proving that even arthouse films can be within reach of any moviegoer.
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12Swiss Army Man (2016)
Swiss Army Man
The directing duo of Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, known simply as the Daniels, only have two films under their belt that they have directed, and they very well may be two of the most refreshingly artistic films of our generation. Their crowning achievement is, of course,Everything Everywhere All at Once, a film that won them Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Original Screenplay at the 95th Academy Awards. Their first feature together is a little-known and certainly peculiar film titledSwiss Army Man. Starring Paul Dano as the down-trodden Hank Thompson and Daniel Radcliffe as the gas-powered corpse that ultimately saves Hank’s life.
An Emotional Oddity
In a world of generically mass-produced cinema,Swiss Army Manis a much-needed slap in the face in the best way possible. It is bizarre from start to finish and an acquired taste, to say the least. It also packs an emotional punch, one that everyone can resonate with. The film was a standout at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, but unfortunately did not find a widespread audience when released in theaters, a true shame for sucha compelling masterpiece.
11Lady Bird (2017)
Lady Birdtruly marked the arrival of acclaimed director Great Gerwig. Starring Saoirse Ronan, Layrie Metcalf, and Timothée Chalamet. The film follows the tumultuous life of high school senior Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, chronicling a difficult relationship with her mother and the young love she encounters in the form of Chalamet’s Kyle. While we know what Gerwig would go on to accomplish in the years following the release ofLady Bird, her first mainstream feature was a critically acclaimed hit.
A Relatable Coming-of-Age Story
Lady Birdmay be the most accessible arthouse film on this list. Its subject matter is simple, relatable, and easy to consume and digest. The arthouse effect of the film comes in the form of cinematography and color palettes used throughout the film. A pastel tint fills the movie and makes every scene truly feel like a work of art. At the end of the day, it is still a relatively independent film, despite its broader appeal.
Phantom Thread
Phantom Threadmarks the unofficial retirement of renowned actor Daniel Day-Lewis. The Paul Thomas Anderson-directed film follows Day-Lewis as a fashion designer named Reynolds Woodcock and chronicles the impact his new lover has on his meticulous lifestyle. The collaboration of Anderson, Day-Lewis, and the rest of the crew would earnPhantom Threadsix nominations at the Academy Awards, with costume designer Mark Bridges taking home an Oscar, despite the mysteriousdisapproval of the film by actor Jennifer Lawrence.
Beauty Runs Deep
The movie itself is as beautiful to look at as the clothes featured throughout it. As we do a deep dive into the obsessive nature of Reynolds Woodcock. The story weaves itself like threads, no pun intended, into a beautiful tapestry or themes. A two-plus-hour film about a 1950s fashion designer may not lend itself to a broad audience, but if given a chance,Phantom Threadcould come across as a beautiful gown on the body that is American cinema.
9Roma (2018)
Romatells the story of a maid living in Mexico City who provides for her family by working as a maid for a middle-class family. Director Alfonso Cuarón shines in this semi-autobiographical drama about his own upbringing. The film would be one of the first major releases for Netflix and one of the first streaming films to be nominated for an Academy Award. While the film did have a limited run in theaters, some filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg vaguely expressed disapproval of the film earning such a nomination.
Tell the Stories You Know
Romais a deeply personal film for Cuarón, and it shows the precision and care that is put into every shot of this beautiful film. Utilizingthe black-and-white color, the film shines a raw and unfiltered light into the everyday lives of a Mexican family living and loving despite their restrictions. Cuarón does not sacrifice anything or pander to anyone in the pursuit of telling his story. An arthouse film can oftentimes be a film a director or writer makes for themselves with commercialized appeal thrown out the window.
8Parasite (2019)
Parasitetook the film world by storm in 2019 with its brilliant writing and exceptional performances along with stellar directing by Bong Joon-ho. This film centers around the Kim family in South Korea, who slowly infiltrate a wealthy family by way of taking on jobs within the family, such as tutor, housekeeper, and driver. From there, a fantasy life turns into a nightmare as they fall deeper into their own lies and imagined lives.Parasitewould take home the Best Picture award at the 202 Academy Awards.
Social Issues Personified
Similar to Alfonso Cuarón andRoma, Bong Joon-ho has a particular personal connection to his film. With inspiration taken from the Korean arthouse filmThe Housemaidfrom 1960,Parasiteas a film becomes a vessel for a deeply unsettling commentary on the socioeconomic issues that plague South Korea and, in fact, a majority of the world. The dark humor and visceral yet beautiful bloodshed that ensues as the story progresses combine to make an arthouse film that will be remembered well by the next generation.
7Jojo Rabbit (2019)
Jojo Rabbit
Few filmmakers enjoyed the run that Taika Waititi had in the late 2010s into the early 2020s. Following his revitalization of the MCU withThor: Ragnarok, Waititi turned his attention toJojo Rabbit. A film adaptation of the bookCaging Skies, Jojo Rabbittells the story of a young kid in Hitler’s youth during World War II who navigates a relationship with his mother and a young Jewish girl he finds being sheltered in his home.
A Different Take on a World War
Jojo Rabbitprovides a unique and refreshing take on World War II, through the eyes of a child caught in the middle of a world-shattering movement. One that claims the life of his father and ultimately his mother, but shows his perseverance to develop his own thoughts as he establishes an emotional connection with someone he has been taught to hate. From a beautiful color palette, a deeply moving artistic story, and enough comedy to provide brevity from the film’s heavy subject. Waititi crafts a modern-day piece of art.
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6Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020)
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
In 2020, the world lost actor Chadwick Boseman to colon cancer at the young age of 43. His impact on Hollywood is immeasurable, and the roles he portrayed throughout his career are unforgettable. His final film which was released following his death wasMa Rainey’s Black Bottom.A film inspired by blues' singer Gertrude “Ma” Rainey.
Culture and Art Celebrated
One of the most important messages to be taken away fromMa Rainey’s Black Bottomis the exceptional way in which the film celebrates black art. From the direction, to powerful performances from Boseman and Viola Davis. The film is handled with care, as a finely crafted piece of art should be.
